Means for immersing packages in melted wax or the like



, 1935., v| R ARNOTT AL 2,023,822

MEANS FOR IMMERSING PACKAGES IN MELTED WAX OR THE LIKE Filed June 2o, 1954 2 sheets-sheet);

ec, BU, R935. L., R. ARNOTT ET AL MEANS FOR IMMERSING PACKAGES 1N MELTED WAX oR THE LIKE 2 sheetssneet 2 Filed June 20, 1934 @lim Patented Dec. 10, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE MEANS FOR IMBERSING PACKAGES IN MELTED WAX OR THE LIKE` Application .lune 20, 1934, Serial No. '731,546 In Australia,` September 13, 1933 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in means for immersing packages such as packages of biscuits in melted wax or the like for the purpose of rendering the packages airtight.

Biscuits, cakes, and the like when wrapped in paper do not remain crisp and palatable owing to the absorption of moisture or humidity from the atmosphere.

An object of the present invention is to provide a reliable and effective machine whereby biscuits or the like when wrapped in absorbent paper and, if desired, protected by an inner grease-proof wrapper, are coated with wax or the like to seal hermetically the package against the ingress of moisture.

According to the present invention a bath of wax or the like is contained in a chamber or tank which is heated by steam pipes and contains means whereby the packets are conveyed through the tank, the latter being also provided with feeding and delivery means above the normal level of the said bath.

In one form of the invention the packets are fed to the immersing means by a conveyor having projections thereon at spaced intervals to receive the packets between them.

The said conveyor is mounted upon suitable shafts and feeds the packets to a device which transfers them to a rotatable immersing or dipping wheel, the packets being conveyed by the latter beneath the surface of the melted wax. The immersing Wheel, which is slotted to allow the fingers of the said transfer device to pass therethrough, is driven by suitable means, which may be connected to a shaft passing through a stufhng box in the wall of the tank.

To prevent the packages oating upwardly during their immersion in the wax, curved guide rails following the contour of the immersing wheel may be provided.

As the packages are raised above the melted wax after their immersion, superfluous wax is drained partially therefrom and they are removed from the immersing wheel, for instance by a forked wheel, which transfers them to a delivery conveyor subject to a shaking device which further removes any excess of wax from the packages. The shaking device may be incorporated in the means provided for conveying the waxed packages from the machine.

A thermometer for indicating the temperature of the melted wax, and a gauge for indicating the level of the wax in the tank are also provided.

A compartment may be placed above the tank to receive wax for the purpose of replenishing the -waX bath.

But in order that the invention may be understood clearly and readily carried into practical effect reference is now made to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this complete specification, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of means constructed in accordance with a preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the immersing chamber represented in Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view of the conveying and immersing means illustrated in Figure 2.

According to the application of the invention illustrated, an immersing wheel 4 is mounted in a chamber or tank 5 wherein is a bath 6 of melted wax or the like.

The said wheel 4 is fast on a shaft 'I supported v by the side walls of the chamber 5, and it may be driven by any appropriate means. It has a plurality of radially disposed teeth adapted to receive thepackages 9 and immerse them in the bath 6.

Leading into one end of the chamber 5 is an endless conveyor Ill comprising a number of narrow belts or chains II as seen in Figure 3. This conveyor is hereinafter referred to as the feeding conveyor Ill: It presents the packages 9 to j a driven toothed transfer wheel I2 whereby said packages are lifted from the feeding conveyor IS and deposited on one of the teeth 8 of the immersing wheel ll as indicated in Figure 2.

On referring to Figure 3 it will be observed that the teeth of the transfer wheel I2 pass between the belts or chains II of the feeding conveyor I6 and also between the side faces of the teeth 3 of the immersing wheel 4.

At the other end of the chamber 5 there is a delivery conveyor I3 for discharging the packages 9 from the mechanism after having been immersed. If desired the conveyor I3 may be inclined, its lower end being situated in the chamber 5.

The packages 9 after passing through the bath 6 are removed from the immersing wheel 4 by a toothed transfer wheel I4 somewhat similar in construction to the wheel I2, and they are deposited onto the delivery conveyor I3.

The belts I5 (see Figure 3) of the latter conveyor pass around a pulley it which may be driven by the shaft 1 through the medium of suitable gearings; and said belts are kept taut by a weighted jockey pulley I'I in well known manner.

Immediately below the upper portion of the delivery conveyor I3 is a frame I8 which has attached to it a rod I9 depending from a lever 20 capable of being rocked by a ratchet wheel 2|. This ratchet wheel 2l may also derive its motion from the shaft 'l as desired.

Two arcuate plates 22 are supported in the chamber 5 to guide the packages 9 as they are passed through the bath 6.

Coils such as 23 for the circulation of steam or hot air are supported in the bath 6, and further coils 24 are supported below the upper portion of the delivery conveyor I3.

The chamber 5 is illuminated by electric lamps such as 25 and has inspection ports 26 (Figure 1) in its side walls to allow of the progress of the packages being kept under observation.

In operating this improved immersing means the packages 9 are placed by hand, or fed uniformly from a suitable hopper, onto the endless feeding conveyor Ill whereby they are led to the transfer wheel I2 which in rotating lifts the packe' ages, one at a time, from said conveyor I and deposits them on the teeth of the immersing wheel 4 as the latter is rotated by its driving'means.

The packages being of light weight in comparison with the density of the bath remain in their respective positions between the teeth 8 on the wheel 4, until on reaching a position approximately diametrically opposite the feeding means. They are transferred from the said wheel 4 to the conveyor I3 wherecn they are dried by heat radiated from the coil 24; and any surplus wax or the like adhering to them is shaken off by the vibration imparted to the frame I8 by operation of the ratchet wheel 2|.

As the packages 9, thus treated, emerge from the immersing means they may be allowed to drop into a conveniently disposed bin or they may be removed from the conveyor I3 by hand.

We claim,

1. Apparatus for immersing packages in melted wax comprising a tank for the wax, a main wheel disposed in the tank for immersing the packages in the wax, said wheel having teeth which receive the packages; a second, wheel, mounted adjacent to said main wheel and at one side thereof, having teeth whereby the packages are engaged and fed to the main wheel, and a third wheel also mounted adjacent to the main wheel and at the other side thereof, said third wheel having teeth whereby the packages are removed from the main wheel. l5

2. Apparatus for immersing packages in melted wax comprising a tank for the Wax, a main wheel disposed in the tank for immersing the packages in the wax, a toothed transfer wheel having teeth cooperating with the main wheel whereby the packages are transferred to the main wheel, a conveyor for feeding the packages to the transfer wheel, a second toothed transfer wheel cooperating with the main wheel and receiving the packages therefrom, a second conveyor operating with the second transfer wheel and receiving the packages therefrom, and means for automatically vibrating the second conveyor to remove superfluous 'wa-X from the packages.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim l, characterized in that each of said wheels includes a plurality of axially spaced members and the members of the second and third wheels being positioned between the spaces of the members of the main wheel.

LESLIE ROSS ARNOTT. LEONARD WHITE ARMFIELD. CARLYLE JACKSON WADDELL. 

